Good luck on your local elections. We’re fighting for our lives here in VA trying to keep our Democratic majority in the Senate. If the other side wins, we’ll lose a lot of our voting rights just like the other states that have passed voter suppression laws. It could have a profound impact on President Obama’s reelection. We already have the old Jim Crow law where ex-felons can’t vote, which affects 300,000 voters in VA. Happy Halloween everyone!

Morning everyone. Chips, I love your explanations last thread last night. Much respect. I have an idea. After reading all the negativity abounding with PBO as our President, it gets tiring, and I don’t have the stomach to engage in the back and forth. I am not trying to admonish folk for their subject matter, but I am more concerned with the dialogues on the small, local levels. Listening to a radio show this morning on retirement, and the obvious tone is that the Obama administration is being blamed for the so-called future increases in taxes on IRAs and other retirement vehicles. So the host goes…..whether you’re D or R, you need to be aware of the changes. Then they proceed to play a couple of taped comments from investors, and one lady spouts, “I am a staunch R and ……”, then someone tells her to ” make sure you vote and throw them all out.” Where we tend to focus on all the beltway chatter and the lies of the large msm, there are concerted efforts below the din, to thwart any and all support for giving PBO the credit he deserves. Of course, this program is about getting folks into their seminars, but in this economic climate, it is not a stretch to haul in the opposition, and those who may have given up. They are driving this meme to a feverish pitch, so I propose that when something is posted here, such as my comments on this topic, we dig deep to respond in kind. I will do a search on this topic, and post as I find any info. Have a blessed day, everyone :-D

This is precisely why you need to go to What Is Working’s site and sign up to push back on those comments/educate with the truth, in YOUR STATE. When you are on local site, ie: Local TV news site, local blogs etc…you need to fight the lies with facts. Post the links to those facts and not engage in arguments with those that would try and pull you in.Many more people READ them, than post. Little by little, state by state, we can fight the lies and smears.
WiW has a place for you to choose your state and start getting involved in this more focused way…would love to have you hop on board! Letters to the editor in your local newspaper would help as well. We all get such a plethora of important info here to battle the lies. Let’s use that on a local/state level.
I also noticed that so many people that normally don’t post very much here, posted last night on Chops thread regarding the computer/troll issues. All of YOU can be welcomed aboard in this effort, as well! It takes a village…and I can’t think of a better, more informed group of people than this fine collection of individuals that can really make a difference:)

Hi desertflower. Just got back in from the cold……brrrrr ! You’re right, and that was going to be my immediate follow-up action, before I even begin to do the research. I actually signed at the start of WIW, but with a limited media list. I ventured into what apparently was rethug territory on radio this morning, and that is hard to engage in. However, I intend to do a lot of pushing back locally, beginning with our Nov. 8 county elections. Thanks for your commitments. :-D

Awesome! We need all hands on deck for this…the stakes are too high, and if some people STILL don’t get it…maybe one day, they will come to realize what “could” have been.We got to go ” balls to the wall!”

OT but I didn’t see your plea for the link to CCleaner until now but I see Amk gave you the link. If you have been using Google Chrome for a while you will be shocked at how much garbage they stored on your computer. Just run the cleaner every time you log off and you will be okay. BTW, Happy Birthday! Are you planning to attend any Dia De Los Muertos celebrations in your community? We are going to Tucson tomorrow for ours. The grandkiddos and I spent some time in baking and food prep this morning. They are excited and on a sugar high right now. Hubby is trying to settle them down for a video to give me a break. Enjoy your weekend!

Good morning TOD friends. I hope it doesn’t snow on the little ones at Halloween at the White House. I know they are probably looking forward to being there. I also love how PBO called out the repugs for voting on “minting coins” instead of working on jobs.

You’re one of the 2 Koch brothers (any one doesn’t matter). Anniebella is the other Koch bro. So I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of pro-Herman Cain, Scott brown and Chris Christie comments from you on Monday :):):):) !!!

Oh – thanks for posting this link! I don’t know how I missed that thread, but work has been getting busier these days and taking me away from my TOD browsing… I’m going to be Herman Cain for Halloween? Ok – I’ll have to brush up on my palin-babble and practice that creepy slow smile he’s been featuring in his offensive commercials. What fun!

But they also know that he has done what many ventured and failed, so to keep feeling good about themselves, they continue these patronizing statements.

By far and heads above, any other day and time, the people who refuse or begrudgingly give him credit know deep down in their hearts that this man is brilliantly masterful in his governing of this country. The history books will prove it.

Theo, I feel the same. It seems to me that even if it is “supportive”, it always has a feeling of him being the teacher and Obama is the student. Grrrrrrrr! ever dem it seems has to add his or two cents worth on what PBO should be doing and how. ENOUGH!

More executive actions are expected from the White House throughout the rest of the year as the administration pushes to show that it is working to create jobs and reinvigorate the economy even as Congress resists the president’s jobs bill.

But the administration’s new strategy already faces pushback from Capitol Hill.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is questioning the president’s authority to act alone, saying Thursday that “this idea that you’re just going to go around the Congress is just, it’s almost laughable.”

White House press secretary Jay Carney defended the administration’s actions. “The president is operating well within the bounds of his authority, and in a way that is consistent with the kinds of executive actions that presidents have taken in previous administrations, presidents of both parties,” he said Thursday.

…

One of Obama’s Friday memos calls on agencies to accelerate the process of moving new technologies developed by the government and entities funded by government to the marketplace, in part by cutting in half the time for startups to receive grants. The memo also gives federal agencies greater flexibility to collaborate with businesses and local communities. It also orders agencies to create five-year plans on commercializing research and to keep tabs on how many patents each federal lab generates.

The actions requested by the president are, Blank said, “among the most important steps taken to improve tech transfer since” the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Transfer Act of 1980, which promoted innovation to achieve economic and social goals.

Absolutely LOVE seeing PBO say, “Live from NY, it’s SNL!!” I remember that show, he was so cool, as usual. Halloween Party at the WH tonight!! It was livestreamed last year so we’ll have to look to that again.

Howdy do right back to you friend. Sorry for the delayed response, I was in the pumpkin patch as tomorrow we have a little get together to create our pumpkin masterpieces. I can’t wait for the WH event,,,,,,,I love anything with kids and our POTUS and FLOTUS.

Yardarm756….shamefully I have never tweeted. I set up an account in mid August…..and then ran for cover. I have no idea why I am so adverse to joining the ‘Twitter Brigade’……..I think, beacuse I am so long winded, and not particularily clever or witty like say, yourself. And by the way you are not an ‘old geezer’….but rather a man of substance, experience , and the perfect dash of piss and vinegar :)

Morning Chips and TOD famiglia. It’s a beautiful albeit cold saturday morning but it’s all good. Thanks for posting the SNL Halloween video; it never gets old. I wonder what POTUS and FLOTUS will be for Halloween this year. FLOTUS has been catwoman before and I finally figured that POTUS has just been coming as a college professor ;) with a variation on sweaters, shirts, and pants. Either way, it’s all good. :)

That SNL clip is a reminder of the huge difference between the primaries then and now. In 2007, both dems and repugs were having actual debates and we heard a lot more about them actually campaigning in Iowa and NH. Now all we get is a circus act. What a difference!

A controversial law sharply curtailing collective-bargaining rights for Ohio’s public employees is sinking in the polls, raising Democratic hopes that the measure’s defeat could boost their prospects in the crucial swing state in 2012.

The law’s diminishing poll numbers have coincided with a decline in the approval ratings of Republican Gov. John R. Kasich, the measure’s most visible proponent. The drop is coming as the law’s union-led opponents have waged an energetic campaign against a measure that they say represents an overreach by the state’s Republican political leaders.

Now, analysts said, that effort could carry over into 2012, and national organizations are pouring millions into both sides of the referendum battle.

“The organizational efforts seem to be reviving portions of the Democratic coalition and that will likely have a beneficial effect on the presidential campaign for the Democrats,” said John C. Green, director of the Bliss Institute at the University of Akron.

The apparent unpopularity of the measure was highlighted this week when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney declined to endorse the law after visiting a Cincinnati call center where volunteers were working to build support for it.

Thanks amk. Great news, however I note how the article attempts to let Willard off the hook in the last sentence you posted. He flip flopped on the issue and is now “110%” in favor of it — but I guess they couldn’t tie Willard to an unpopular law, could they? :roll:

1. Do nothing house of GOP only scheduled to work 3 more weeks before the end of the year….
2. Re-cap of the OBA report about wealth inequality for the last 30 yrs..
3. Sane rich folks want to help the country by not fretting about the surcharge increase..
4. GOP still not getting the message…
5. Do nothing rethug party won’t help then I will use my executive pen to help the middle-class…

I hope the President is able to shame these GOP do-nothings at the State of the Union speech in January, when he notes what was/wasn’t achieved this year, the paltry number of days in session this year and proposed for next year, the salaries they received (broken down per day of actual work), how much it cost the taxpayers to run their do-nothing Congress’ offices, and what they got in return: X number of renamed post offices, X number of House passed abortion bills, X number of kill Medicare bills, X number of bills to kill healthcare and deregulate the financial and oil industries, and zero jobs bills. And then list the number of public workers who were unemployed during that time, the jobs that could have been created, the times each GOP member went on TV to complain about something the President did to help people in this country. That would be karma.

It would be great if we were all armed with these statistics so that we could write letters to the editor, twitter and call in to local radio shows. It shouldn’t have to be up to the president to do all the messaging. Does anyone know a good source for all these figures? The people in my county are so penny-pinching that paying people to do nothing would really resonate with them.

Chips, I just read all of the comments and your comment on the previous thread. I echo the thanks and accolades to you from my fellow TOD friends. You put a lot of work into this blog and it is highly appreciated. Thank you and other TOD friends for sifting through the junk out there to find positive things about PBO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Joe lost by a hair to a lunatic who should never have gotten a foot in the Senate. He was underfunded compared to Toomey because he had to win a tough primary campaign against Specter. BUT, his campaign was disorganized and too tightly concentrated in the hands of his family so that they were slow to react when they needed to. Joe did well in Phillie and could probably have won if he had another week or two. He’s still criss-crossing the state, picking up support for a run for his old House seat with the long-term goal of running for governor. BUT HE IS NOT READY for a presidential run and would not be asset to any democratic ticket as a VP at this point.

Also enjoyed the I’ll stick with hope pumpkins and a re-viewing of the fun SNL skit.
Did not enjoy AP’s new post, which seemed to be just another excuse to again (3rd story in a row) mention “sagging enthusiasm” and “sagging poll numbers” (false). Did you know that Obama goes to speak in front of various Dem constituencies???!!!!!! And rarely stays for din????!!!! (or drinking and dancing). And that Maxine Waters was not happy with Obama telling CBC to put on their “marching shoes”????!!! (another round of that from weeks ago) AP was desperate for a negative slant. Pitiful.

The entire MSM is disturbingly obsessed with mentioning President Obama’s supposedly “sagging approval numbers” when they are regardless of the topic in the report. For example, I looked at a range of reports on the boost in ratings for Jay Leno due to PBO’s appearance and ALL the articles started off by mentioning his so-called low job approvals, which aren’t even all that low to begin with.

I think we need to push back HARD on this false meme that the media is trying to maintain, and we need to call them out on their double standard when they fail to mention the even lower approvals for other politicians like John Boehner and the current pathetic clown car of GOP presidential hopefuls. I am going to take WIW’s suggestion and register with these online rags and comment whenever I see these bullshyte reports about the President’s approval numbers.

Hi desertflower. Last night i thought i read a post from you asking about cleaning your PC. If that was you i’d like to offer a suggestion or two. If not you then i hope whoever it was will see this.
First make sure you have your RAM as high as it will go. This may require you to purchase additional “stick(s). It will make your unit faster. It sounds daunting but there is a site that can analyze your system, on line and tell you what you need. i used it two years ago i found my system was bare bones. So i purchased two memory sticks(on sale) that raised my system to 2G’s from 450M. The site is easy to use too: http://www.crucial.com/.
If you have to purchase stuff, i recommend: http://www.newegg.com/
To keep me worry free from viruses and other junk i us http://www.avast.com/ (it’s free for 1 year) i purchased it after that.
The biggest deal, for me, was: http://www.sammsoft.com/advanced_registry_optimizer/. This deep cleans the PC’s registry. It too has a free trial.
i use this at the end of the day and my PC has been at warp speed for 2 years now.
i hope this is helpful to someone.

Also I saw somewhere that PBO’s approval polls were higher than other presidents after the same period of time in office which was remarkable given the economic situation. Is that still true? If so that should be the counter along with the others are lower.

In a sense this is a good thing. PBO’s is support is solid and continues to grow under the radar, especially as he stands in comparison to the opposition. Thinking they’ve got an easy target makes the R’s careless and arrogant and leads to the mind numbingly stupid, tone-deaf positions they’re now taking. Also as long as they think their R presidential candidate is a shoo-in, they won’t feel the need to do as much electoral vote rigging, thinking their guy will sail through. I want them to get complacent and over play their hand. That way they can do all the work to bring their own side down.

Good morning everyone. Missed you all yesterday. My home laptop and I sometimes have a falling out and I could not log on. I am posting a Youtube video of the OWS protest at the Bank of America Tower in downtown Phoenix. I happen to know the guy yelling at the protesters (he is one of the 1% and VERY CONSERVATIVE), but he is no friend of mine.

The House of Republicans are subpoena the Presidents blackberry.
Can someone say executive privilege?
They are sure trying to make a bug deal out if this Solyndra Thingy!
Only problem is, GW also had donors from this Company and this loan started under the bush administration! Soooooo, if this goes to far, bush will be implicated too!
Just saying!

Jovie, it seems to me Carl Rove & Co. already showed that Congress can subpoena til the cows come home and no one in the Executive Branch has. Do you really think they’re going to direct the Capitol Police to frisk the president? Me neither.

Jackie you are so spot on……Karl Rove and company have established the perfect precedent….lets hold that mirror back up to these Rethugs. They need to quit wasting our tax payer dollars and get to work on JOBS!

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior released a revised plan Thursday that designates four areas of public land in southern Colorado to serve as solar energy development areas.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar presented the Supplement to the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement during a teleconference, after the plan was made available for public review in December.

This time, Colorado had the second highest tally of “solar energy zones” with four, while Nevada topped the list with five.

Thanks for the great job, Chips. Looking at your previous post about Firefox problems, I use Google Chrome because it’s a smaller program and it’s usually easier to load sites. It’s having a difficult time with a lot of them lately and yours, too. It’s slower loading. I get automatic updates on whatever programs I use so I don’t know if there has been some updates that are making a difference. I’ve also had problems before because not all of the programs are in sync after an update. I’m not able to view the petitions at the Whitehouse and I’m sure it’s some security setting or something not updated, but I haven’t found it yet.

I’ve been thinking about the Republicans and their beating the drum of their message. I don’t buy toilet paper based on a TV commercial and I certainly wouldn’t decide a political issue because of one. And yet there are people who do let opinions of others influence them and we can reach them and get them to think about the issues or give them another viewpoint to think about. The Republicans have taken a stance about the wealthy, deregulation and taxes that does not work, much of it based on misinformation, and they just dig deeper and deeper into it. When people begin to question part of it I think they will question all of it. President Obama is doing the right thing — he’s going directly to the people and those people will talk to other people. And sites like this blog can reach so many people. We are united in our desire for good for our country, our President and for each other and that’s a powerful force.

Today is a grateful day. My cousin Nick is home from Afghanistan (not sure how long). Wished all the troops could be home with their families and experiencing the joy and happiness we are all feeling. I say a prayer each day for that to happen soon. Have a super weekend TOD friends!

It’s my first time seeing this as well. I noticed when he took off the mask, the audience cheered, but once he smiled that radiant smile, the cheers got louder. So glad his grandmother advised him to smile in public……it has helped to bring him a long way. Hey, if ya got it, flaunt it. :-D

It’s interesting that in 2007 he already generated that kind of excitement with the people. That should be a clue to Hunstman et al who draw nothing more than huge YAWNS despite the media trying to pimp them as much as possible.

They are effectively spitting and laughing at ordinary Americans. They know people are suffering, and yet they also know that many of those people will vote them right back into power, and are working to oust President Obama from the White House. If this election is not a landslide win for President Obama, then these Republicans are going to take heart that there are enough stupid and/or greedy people who buy their bilk enough to never hold them accountable for anything.

Just looking at how they have behaved these 2.5 years – the racism, the obstruction against economic recovery, the deliberate destruction of the values and institutions that are held dear in this country, the promotion of hate and ignorance, the blatant protection of the top 1% of the population – the fact that they aren’t even pretending to care what is public knowledge anymore. The war against women, the war against minorities, the war against the President. Calling the first responders and public workers “parasites”. Grovelling at Leader Limbaugh’s feet. Nominating a bunch of dangerous losers to run for President. Holding middle class families hostage so that the top 1% can get their tax cut. Threatening to kill Medicare, and then voting for it – twice. Threatening to shut down the government, even if the troops don’t get paid while they’re on the battlefield. Lying to seniors that the President wants to kill grandmas, and then refusing to approve a $250 payout to seniors to see them through a cold winter without a COLA. Refusing to fund disaster relief. Telling countries who are fighting for their freedom that they don’t deserve democracy, and ousting their dictators or protecting their wives and children from slaughter is wrong because it will raise oil prices. Apologizing to BP for holding them accountable for spilling billions of gallons of oil in American waters and killing 12 men. Insulting the First Lady.

If Republicans are not punished for how they’ve treated American citizens and people around the world, then children will learn that bullying actually works, and hatred/racism is a strong motivator.Strong enough to cause a parent to act in a way that will harm the world their child will inherit.

Love you, theo:) That’s what this election is ALL about. The other thing I’ve been thinking a lot about, is the fact that older Republicans need to be reminded that this is NOT the Republican party that they remember! If we all make a point of reminding them of this, and giving them that “food for thought’, I think they will begin to see things in a much different light…and really THINK about what these Republican candidates are saying.I know this from talking to my own dad, who is MORTIFIED at this metamorphosis that he has seen.It actually helps that he lives in Florida, so he sees the Rick Scott,Rubio,West, BS daily. HE is in his seventies now, and has a heart and empathy for others and their plights…those pols have NONE of that, and it’s very, very disturbing to him. He is beginning to see the light….I’m still working on him…it’ll be a work in progress until election day. But the “light is on, and somebody’s home” He’s paying attention, and that’s all we need.For now.

What you’re doing with your father….that’s how we’re going to win it again. Keep up the good work!

I have a Repub friend who surprised me last year telling me he voted for President Obama (Jerry Brown for that matter too), but still didn’t really want that advertised in our circles. He just told me he really likes what President Obama has done and plans to vote for him again. I still can’t get him to switch parties though. Amazing how difficult it is to get people to change their minds once it’s been engrained. President Obama clearly understand this, and winning over your dad and my friend is a big part of his approach. Fired up!

You bet, bonkers! The other thing is, that older voters, VOTE. They’re not stupid, and consider voting a privilege and an honor. When Republicans talk about eliminating SS/Medicare …that’s a no brainer for them. The fact that COLA will increase this time, IS A BIG DEAL to them. My dad was upset that it didn’t rise last year…and will remember this year when it does. One foot in front of the other:)

You remind me of a question I’ve been meaning to ask – Can a registered Republican vote for Pres Obama or another Democrat on election day? In other words can he/she walk into the voting booth and at that moment choose a democrat despite what s/he is registered as? This registration business has always puzzled me, because where I live I can vote for whomever I want when I walk into the voting booth.

It’s the same everywhere. What registered Repugs or Dems can’t do is cross over and vote for the other party’s candidates in primaries. For primaries they have to stick with the party they are registered to. Some states like AZ do allow “independents” to declare a party and then vote in primaries of their choice. In the general election all folks are free to vote for any candidate of their choice regardless of their declared party affiliation. Hope this helps.

Yes it helps, AG911. Thanks! :lol: I’ve been having this dream that #43 votes** for #44 in the November election because, even though he has been relatively quiet, in his heart he must know the country needs 4 more years of #44 to erase more of the damage HE caused. I just feel #43 has to have realized in the last years of his final term that he was way, way, way out of his league.

I do the same with Repubs around me, remind that this is not your father’s Republican Party. Nothing irritates me more than someone saying they are Repub because their parents were and that’s just the way it is. I want them to think for themselves and think about how different this present day Repub Party is, everything mentioned in Theo’s comprehensive comment. This is not just some fiscally conservative and socially moderate party any more—–it’s become this radical, destructive force. I managed to bring a few family members and friends over to the bright side last time, more should be ready at this point after watching the increasing horror unfold.

Exactly, dotster. Everyone has their tipping point…an issue that just makes someone totally unacceptable to the person voting. There are SO MANY trigger points they have hit on for so many different kinds of people, it may not be as hard to make them see this as it would have been years ago.People ARE paying attention, and that’s a good thing.

For 297 days, the GOP has refused to act on Americans’ top priority – job creation – but they have been quite busy passing dead end Drill-Only energy bills and protecting tax breaks for Big Oil, one of the most profitable industries in the world. From AP:

Chevron Corp.’s quarterly profit more than doubled as a jump in petroleum prices made up for declining production.

Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company after Exxon Mobil, said Friday that oil prices soared 41 percent in the U.S. and 47 percent internationally. Natural gas prices also rose.

Chevron, based in San Ramon, Calif., reported net income of $7.83 billion, or $3.92 per share, for the quarter. That compared with $3.77 billion, or $1.87 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 26 percent to $61.3 billion. [10/28]

With Americans already facing high prices at the pump, will the GOP turn off the spigot of taxpayer dollars flowing to our largest oil companies? It’s time for Republicans to stop protecting special interests and join Democrats to defend the public interest. We must work together to create jobs, strengthen our middle class and small businesses, and grow our economy.

Early voting has already far exceeded the last two off-year elections, fueled by a fierce fight over whether to keep or repeal Senate Bill 5, a measure to limit collective-bargaining rights for police, teachers and other public-sector workers in Ohio.

Sharon Kay of Madison Township said she was eager to vote no on Issue 2, which would repeal Senate Bill 5. The special-education teacher’s aide thinks the restrictions are unfair to workers.

She also hoped to avoid long lines that she anticipates the heated battle between the bill’s backers and public-workers’ unions will bring on Election Day. (Which is Nov. 8th)

A vote by Ohio’s elections chief means no extra hours for early voting at the board of elections in one of “the state’s largest urban counties.”

Elections board members were tied on the question of extended early voting for Montgomery County, which includes Dayton. Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted became the tie breaker and sided with GOP board members who did not want to stretch the absentee voting into the weekend and evenings.

Husted said Wednesday his decision was based on the board’s financial constraints. He also says voters already have ample opportunity to get their vote in ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

A Democratic board member complains of “voter suppression.”

Other county elections boards are offering expanded early voting hours.

Amazing. ABC is giving Michelle”I live on Mars” Bachmann an entire HOUR? WTH is THAT? Maybe they meant to really put her on the Disney Channel…that’s more her speed. What a joke. She has zero chance of going anywhere. makes you wonder what the thought processes of these programmers really are. Just a waste.

Personally, I don’t wonder at all. ALL the MegaMedia is owned by a small handful of Billionaires now. They are the final say on anything that happens in their varied media outlets. They only hire people who will not rock the boat, especially in the producer and management ranks. If someone gets out of line and practices actually Journalism, they will be fired. This is how they control the message so tightly, and make sure complete, utter buffoons like Bachmann-Turn Her-Overdone are treated as if they have something important to say.

I feel this way because I used to work for some of the major networks, including ABC. That’s how it operates. It didn’t used to be that way when those Billionaires had restrictions on what they could own and on the content, but President Clinton put the last nail in that coffin with the Telecommunications Act of 1996. We were all lamenting that Act at the time it was signed predicting what has exactly happened since. Things were being weakened before then, but that really was the last straw to send us into La-La Land in terms of our “media,” and thereby national discourse.

Sad. So sad. You saw that coming even then…I thought Clinton was such a savior:) I can think of many issues he was on the wrong side of…were it not for the fact that the economy was thriving then….I think that he wouldn’t have gotten the passes that he has.

Agree completely. Thought it always showed that just with a very small amount of Liberal policy enacted, things improved dramatically with the economy, crime, and all sorts of other issues. I noticed President Obama pointed out again the other day how Clinton left office with a $200-billion surplus, and was beginning to actually start paying down the incredible debt he inherited from Raygun/Shrub The First, all from just a minor 3% income tax raise at the highest level. Then of course, Repubs took over again with the help of the corrupted Supreme Court Justices, and promptly ballooned the debt back to nearly double what Raygun had left. Imagine if we enacted real Liberal policy again…just how much things would improve across the board.

And to think almost every MegaMedia spokeshole still advances the “Repubs are the fiscally responsible ones, and Democrats are the tax and spenders” false storyline, when we have many decades of historical fact proving the exact opposite is true. Everyday is Opposite Day in our MegaMedia!

One of the major reasons progressives have been largely sidelined politically for the last 40-plus years is because a large, loud segment of our movement simply can’t understand how politics actually works. Because of this relative political ignorance, they tend to react irrationally to everything they’re told by “certain people,” and in the process end up making us look almost as bad as the right wingers.

Pavlovian responses to Professional Left stimuli does not make for a successful “movement.”

Being reactionary is always a bad practice, in every part of your life. I know, because I used to be the king of reactionaries. I make a lot more sense since I learned to calm down and take a long look at the entire playing field.

Politics is a game. I know some folks hate the very thought of that, because they think of politics as some sort of “noble enterprise,” the sole purpose of which is the advance society for the betterment of mankind, or some like nonsense. It’s not. Politics in a democratic republic is the art of finding a way to get a majority behind the issues you find to be the most important. It is a clash of 300 million “special interests,” with the result being, hopefully, a consensus that all can live with. If you’re a progressive who thinks our government will every be a fully progressive, liberal enterprise, I have this bridge for you…

Yet, many of the loudest voices coming from our side of the political aisle seem to have no concept of the gamesmanship that is politics. Some of it is ignorance, but I suspect more than a few who propagate the worst nonsense seem to be pretty book-smart, to the point that it makes me wonder if perhaps they’re doing it on purpose. Perhaps they’re stealth political operatives trying to help the right wing win elections and stay in power. I know — that sounds cynical, right? Okay, fair enough, but it’s still less cynical than the other reason. I think a lot of them are trying to make a living with their blog, and they’re purposely being obtuse in order to excite you, get you to react, and maximize donations.

Whatever the reason, the reactionary ignorance really has to stop. it makes us look like “them.” And if you think the right wing wins because it’s reactionary, forget it. They win because we too often look like them.

==================================

Read more about the trial balloon put forward by Democrats on the so-called “super-Committee.

The deadline (Oct 31st at 11:59PM) is quickly approaching to be entered for a chance to win one round-trip ticket within the continental U.S. to Charlotte, North Carolina and hotel accommodations for one during the week of the Democratic Convention next year. SIGN UP TODAY!

Just got a chance to view the “Dinner With the President” piece from the Ed Show. How amazing was that? I love what they said about PBO being an upbeat, positive person, and how he loves to just keep it moving ahead. That’s the personality trait of his I most try to emulate. If he can keep his head up in these times and not give way to negativity, so can I.

I watched Ed yesterday just to see the amazing 4. It was funny how Ed kept asking them what PBO talked about. I was so happy that they were positive and upbeat and did not give Ed and the MSM anything to feed off. PBO is not a negative person at all and I am happy that they felt his compassion.

‘W.H. HALLOWEEN’: According to a White House release, at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, “President and Mrs. Obama will welcome local children to trick-or-treat at the North Portico of the White House, which will be lit orange for the occasion. The trick-or-treaters are elementary students from local schools in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas as well as children from the Boys and Girls Club of America and children from military families. … As the trick-or-treaters make their way across the North Lawn … they will be entertained by the Marine Band playing Halloween music and spooked by in-costume actors from Washington-area theatres, brought together by theatreWashington. Veggy Art, a small-business owned by Chef James Parker and based in Chantilly, Va., will provide decorative pumpkins and on-site carving demonstrations … The North Lawn will be decorated with ravens, cobwebs, pumpkin urns and branches.”
Pool-

O/T…but I just HAVE to share this great news! You all know that my birthday was this past week( I know you know because I got so many well wishes from all of you). You also know that my computer has been nothing but a pain in the arse these last few weeks…it’s a 7 year old laptop that has seen better days, but it was all I had. Well…my wonderful husband surprised me today with my “tardy” birthday present…guess what? I got a new laptop today!!!:) It’s so shiny and quick! He laughed at me….a few years ago, you could not PAY me to be on any computer.Waste of time, I thought.I’d rather read a book or garden.. or pull weeds:) Now, if I can’t get on the computer, I have serious withdrawal symptoms.I’m a happy birthday girl today:)

Oh, thank you, COS! If you saw my tiny “meltdown” the other day…this gift? PRICELESS! Now my husband won’t have to come visit me in the insane asylum:) no time for asylum’s…we have work to do! This is so much faster….I can get three times the work done:) After 30+ years, he still surprises me:) I love that…AND he makes me laugh.Only difference is, when I laugh now, it’s a little more “dicey” if you know what I mean:) TMI??

Different one. i posted it earlier today but don’t ask which thread. i have advanced C.R.S.! but here goes again. It works good on new pc’s too.
Last night i thought i read a post from you asking about cleaning your PC. If that was you i’d like to offer a suggestion or two. If not you then i hope whoever it was will see this.
First make sure you have your RAM as high as it will go. This may require you to purchase additional “stick(s). It will make your unit faster. It sounds daunting but there is a site that can analyze your system, on line and tell you what you need. i used it two years ago i found my system was bare bones. So i purchased two memory sticks(on sale) that raised my system to 2G’s from 450M. The site is easy to use too: http://www.crucial.com/.
If you have to purchase stuff, i recommend: http://www.newegg.com/
To keep me worry free from viruses and other junk i us http://www.avast.com/ (it’s free for 1 year) i purchased it after that.
The biggest deal, for me, was: http://www.sammsoft.com/advanced_registry_optimizer/. This deep cleans the PC’s registry. It too has a
free trial.
i use this at the end of the day and my PC has been at warp speed for 2 years

It’s really is astonishing that this unhinged and deranged woman is getting any time on ABC at all. It’s beyond insulting. The dumbing down of America was put in overdrive with the nomination of Sarah Palin for VP. Michele (with one L) Bachmann running for president has taken us full speed down the rabbit hole.

Tea Party Group To Bachmann: Quit The Presidential Race

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Tea Party Group To Bachmann: Quit The Presidential Race | Tea Party group American Majority offered a directive to the movement’s cheerleader-in-chief: Quit the presidential race. Now. “It’s time for Michele Bachmann to go,” said the group’s president, Ned Ryun, noting that she “has ridden her tea party credentials from obscurity to a national platform like no other.” The group has grown incensed with Bachmann because, as Executive Director Matt Robbins said, “I think it’s pretty obvious that Michele Bachmann is about Michele Bachmann.” “Let’s face it: she’s a back-bencher and has been a back bencher congressperson for years,” he added. “This is not a serious presidential campaign.” Team Bachmann responded by saying that “no single leader speaks” for the Tea Party movement and that “Mr. Ryun, who supports Texas Gov. Rick Perry, is entitled to his own opinion.” But Ryun says he has not “endorsed anybody.” Apparently, the group just can’t get behind Bachmann.

Many mainstream persons who may not follow politics closely and happen to tune in ,after watching for a just a few minutes will know she is cuckoo and a movement that embraces her and allows her to lead their caucus in the House of Representatives should not be taken seriously and needs to be voted out.

Oh, Ms. Chips!!! You made me blush:) I WAS SUCH A FREAKING LUNATIC the other day! I’m so much better now…..maybe I should ask for a house keeper once a week for Christmas because now ALL I want to do is play with my new, fast, shiny toy:) Nothing’s gonna get done around here! I’m beloved???I’m honored:) Love you back!

This should disqualify Romney because one of the crucial requirements for anyone wanting to be the “LEADER” of the free world IS “LEADERSHIP”. Apparently, Romney thinks he should just relinquish his leadership responsibilities as it relates to the Israel Palestine peace talks and let Netanyahu handle everything. Maybe someone will get to Mitt and let him know how utterly embarrassing it is for him to propose such an approach to foreign policy. I expect there will be a flip flop with a convoluted clarification any day now. This is really pathetic.

I am not a fan of Bill Maher but this segment of the 10/21/11 show is just terrific. The guests were Tom Friedman, Rachel Maddow, and Josh Green. Some of the good points that flowed from the conversation are as follows…..

1) Tom Friedman opines on the Republican Party trying to demean the term “leading from behind”. As Tom states, they conveniently use that term to disparage President Obama. The problem is that they don’t complete the sentence. It’s LEADING FROM BEHIND THE SCENES. Anyone with a couple of grey cells knows that it was President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Susan Rice and the U.S diplomats that led on the Libya mission.

2) There was a comment that Mitt “Who Am I This Time” Romney has has 5 DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON LIBYA. As you said Fred, that is leading from so far behind that you can’t see Mitt at all. He’s incoherent on the issue of Libya.

3) Mitt “Who Am I This Time” Romney gave a big foreign policy speech where he mentions Iraq once and says if he becomes president he will commission a study on Afghanistan. And of course, he will follow the advice of the military and the generals. Now that’s leadership for ya. Way to go Mittens.

4) Bill Maher asks a very pertinent question. When you consider President Obama’s foreign policy successes you realize that he was able to do it because the Republicans could not interfere or filibuster his agenda. Bill asks – Just imagine what President Obama would be able to do if he did not have the obstruction of the Republican Party on his domestic agenda. That is the question that the American voters need to ask themselves right now. The question answers itself. Throw the GOP bums out. They are the biggest threat to getting anything done for the good of the country.

5) Tom Friedman says regarding the Iraq war, what ever happens in Iraq WE PAID TOO MUCH FOR IT.

6) Rachel Maddow opines on the drone strikes as warfare. She had concerns about the American people being disconnected from this approach.

Oh wow. Forgot about that one. Bri-guy looks in actual pain when President Barack Hussein Obama says he doesn’t watch their tripe. Hilarious!

The piece is supposed to be some sort of look into the life of Our Guy, and he’s exactly as we all expect, but what’s more interesting in the clip is how it exposes the sheer childish, “OOooo…look at me, me, ME! Mommy” of one of the main MegaMedia spokesholes. What does “one of his brief shining moments” mean, anyway, Bri-guy?!? Stanley Ann’s son in one giant, non-stop shining moment, you small, small man.

President Obama is all about getting stuff done for people. Bri-guy is all about “MEEEEE!” and “look how exciting all this stuff is, yippppeeeee!!!!”

I will never forget that day. That 5 guys is in the 1st level of the building where I work. I’ll never forget how the word spread in my office that the President was in the building. I grabbed my purse and ran down 10 flights of stairs to find a huge crowd outside of the 5 guys. The police had cordoned off the area and the place was going crazy. It’s a memory that I’ll always cherish. The stupidest thing I did that day was grabbing that purse as if he was going to take me with him back to the WH. :)

Thanks, Meta. I love the way the President compared the media/pundits to WWF action, participants playing a role. It is as true now as it was then – they haven’t grown at all! I also like the fact that he stated he doesn’t watch because he doesn’t learn anything from their dialogue. Reminds me of the questions asked in each presser. We’ve got a man in the Oval Office who knows what/who he’s dealing with and who has very clear vision – we are SO lucky/blessed!